Online Reporter
Mugove Chigada
Deputy Sports Editor
WHEN Allen Mukombedzi delivered the final blow that sealed three points for CAPS United’s 2-0 win over HardRock at Rufaro on Saturday, it was historic.
He was not only delivering a fourth straight win from the first four matches for Makepekepe, but also the last one recorded in 2004.
Then, Mukombedzi was not yet born.
To put things into perspective, the current coach, Takesure Chiragwi, was part of that all-conquering CAPS United team that won back-to-back league titles in 2004 and 2005.
It has taken CAPS exactly 22 years to emulate that great start.
“It was a dream come true,” Mukombedzi said.
“ . . . Looking at where I come from, and where I’m right now, I want to thank God, the fans and my parents, family and friends around me. They have been motivating me to be a better version of myself.”
Mukombedzi will know nothing of that era but more of the present. A lot has changed since 2004.
The current CAPS United have risen from the ashes to make a strong statement in the 2026 title race.
And they deserve the right to be compared with the class of 2004 which showed much promise and delivered.
At this stage, Charles Mhlauri’s charges had scored nine goals, with the team firing from all angles. Full-backs, David Sengu (Maketo) and Cephas Chimedza, players that could also play in midfield, had already found the back of the net in those four games.
And in front of goal, Brian Badza was scoring for fun.
Fast-forward two decades later, Ishmael Wadi’s determination has been frightening, and if he stays fit, it could be doom for many in the Premiership.
But he will need to add the numbers, and more players must develop Mukombedzi’s predatory instincts.
“I’m looking forward to keep on helping the team to keep on moving on, towards our objectives,” Mukombedzi concluded.
Such has been their great start to the season that in the years 2005 and 2016, when they were also crowned champions, they fell short of this current record.
In 2005, they could only manage nine points, while in 2016 they managed 10 points, a massive start under coach Lloyd Chitembwe.
Ten years have passed since CAPS United last won the league title, and it is understandable that the great start have left the Green family in dreamland.
They can afford to forget their worst starts in 2015, 2021/22 and 2025 when they managed just four points in the last 22 years.
Coach Chiragwi wants to see his charges remain focused.
“There’s nothing to celebrate as yet,” he said. “It’s just the games that we are winning and it’s our phase.
“We have to make sure we utilise the phase, we need to concentrate and focus more so that we can keep on collecting maximum points.”
By bringing in Charagwi and building from scratch, club president Farai Jere has shown real intent.
And if they do not go on to win this title, they still have in place a formidable project for the next four seasons.
As the season progress, CAPS United will, however, need to take caution and understand that some clubs will recover as the season progresses and possibly change the situation. For the record, since 2016 when CAPS United last won the league title, there is no eventual Castle Lager Premiership champion to have collected 12 points in the first four games.
Scottland last year under coach Tonderai Ndiraya could only collect seven, the same number collected by 2024 champions Simba Bhora the previous year when the same coach was in charge.
Ngezi Platinum in 2023, under Chiragwi, managed only four points in their first four games before they eventually recovered to win the title.
FC Platinum in 2021/22 had just seven points at this stage while in the other years they won the title, 2019, 2018 and 2017, they were on 10 points.
First four games of Champions since 2016
Points
2026 ?
2025 Scottland 7
2024 Simba 7
2023 Ngezi 4
2021/22 FC Platinum 7
2019 FC platinum 10
2018 FC Platinum 10
2017 FC Platinum 10
2016 CAPS United 10
All these stats count for nothing. Football is not like a computer program that is driven by algorithms. So many variables come into play as time progresses. Do sports writers who spend so much time putting together all these statistics ever see that they are useless?